5-Lipoxygenase initiates the biosynthesis of leukotrienes, lipid mediators involved in normal host defense and in inflammatory and allergic disorders. Despite an obvious gender bias in leukotriene-related diseases (e.g., asthma), gender aspects have been neglected in studies on leukotrienes and 5-lipoxygenase. Here, we show that leukotriene formation in stimulated whole blood or neutrophils from males is substantially lower compared with females, accompanied by changed 5-lipoxygenase trafficking. This is due to gender-specific differential activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs). The differences are directly related to variant male/female testosterone plus 5␣-dihydrotestosterone levels, and addition of 5␣-dihydrotestosterone to female blood or neutrophils reduced the high (female) LT biosynthesis capacity to low (male) levels. In conclusion, regulation of ERKs and leukotriene formation by androgens constitutes a molecular basis for gender differences in the inflammatory response, and in inflammatory diseases such as asthma. 5-lipoxygenase ͉ arachidonic acid

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PurposeFertility preservation methods are playing an increasing role in women up to the age of 40 years because of rising survival rates in those affected by cancer. However, balanced practical recommendations concerning all relevant fertility preservation, to support doctors in counselling and treating patients, are still rare.MethodsThese recommendations were prepared by the network FertiPROTEKT (http://www.fertiprotect.eu), a collaboration of around 70 centres in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The recommendations were developed by specialists in reproductive medicine, reproductive biology and oncology, which gave a comprehensive overview of all named techniques as well as their benefits and risks. Furthermore, practice-orientated recommendations for the individual use of fertility preservation methods for various indications such as breast cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and borderline ovarian tumours are given.ResultsVarious options such as ovarian stimulation and cryopreservation of unfertilised or fertilised oocytes, cryopreservation and transplantation of ovarian tissue, GnRH-agonist administration and transposition of the ovaries can be offered. All the techniques can be performed alone or in combination within a maximum of 2 weeks with low risk and different success rates.ConclusionsFertility preservation in women has become an option with realistic chances to become pregnant after cytotoxic therapies. The information provided allows a well balanced and realistic counselling and treatment.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease which may negatively influence fertility. Treatment with cyclophosphamide can damage the ovaries. The ovarian function can also be reduced by autoimmune oophoritis in lupus patients. We analysed the influence of SLE on the ovarian reserve against disease intensity and duration of illness. We determined the ovarian reserve in 33 premenopausal SLE patients without previous cyclophosphamide-treatment by measuring the anti-Muellerian hormone (AMH) and compared these with the AMH values of 33 age-matched healthy controls. Numbers of children and miscarriages were reported. Disease intensity of the SLE patients was determined using SLEDAI and ECLAM and duration of illness was taken into account. We found that the AMH values in the SLE group were significantly lower than in the healthy control group. No significant differences between the groups regarding number of children and miscarriages were noted and no correlation between the AMH value and the duration of illness or the SLEDAI as an indicator of disease activity was found. Despite mild disease activity SLE patients had a significantly lower ovarian reserve than age-matched healthy women. This could be a sign that SLE itself has a negative influence on the ovarian reserve.

Introduction Data on the characteristics of female patients counselled for fertility preservation and the efficacy and risk of the applied procedures are still poor. We therefore analysed the registry of a network of 70 infertility centers which are involved in fertility preservation in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, called FertiPROTEKT (hhtp://www.fertiprotekt.eu). Materials and methods 1,280 counselled patients (15-40 years) were analysed regarding characteristics and different fertility preservation treatments before cytotoxic therapy in [2007][2008][2009]. Results 34.8% of the counselled patients were diagnosed with breast cancer, 30.5% with Hodgkin's lymphoma, 25.4% with other malignancies and 9.3% with non-malignant diseases. 89.6% of the treated breast cancer patients were 25-40 years of age, and 87.5% of the lymphoma patients were 15-30 years of age. At the time of counselling, 85.3% of the breast cancer patients and 92.7% of the lymphoma patients were childless.